Propelling means for velocipedes.



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J. M. COOK.

PROPELLING MEANS FOR VELOCIPEDES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I2..I9I4.

1,160,048. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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w w I N N Arron/vers' JAMES MURRAY GOQK, OF WIOUNT GILEAD, OHIO.

PROPELLNG MEANS FOR VELOCIPEDES.

Specification of Iletteits Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1914. Serial No. 856,323.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES Coon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mount Gilead, in the county of Morrow and State of Ohio, have invented a new and fmproved Propelling Means for Velocipedes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. y

My invention is adapted to be embodied in manually propelled vehicles of different forms, generally designated as velocipedes.

More particularly the invention relates to a driving mechanism of the type employing a reciprocating drive element presenting spaced, internal racks, and a driven pinion in position to alternately mesh lwith the respective racks in the forward and return strokes of the drive element, the pinion thus being driven continuously in one direction.

The invention is characterized by parallel supporting guides for the reciprocal drive element, to sustain the said element alternately with one or the other rack in mesh with the pinion.

The invention is also characterized by a cam on the drive element, and a co-acting, relatively fixed spring orits equivalent, to shift the drive element from one support to the other. Furthermore, the reciprocating drive element is arranged to effect a braking action on a drum associated with the pinion, as in coasting, for instance.

The invention will be particularly explained in the specific description following.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section showing one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a partly sectional plan view; and Fig. 3 is a detail cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In constructing the practical embodiment illustrated, a suitable frame 10 is provided, which mounts the front axle 11 secured in any suitable manner. The axle is here shown as united by a screw or bolt 12 to a hanger 13, there being a brace 14 extending from the front of the frame to the bottom of the hanger, and secured by the bolt. The axle is provided with any approved running wheels 15.

My improved drive is associated with the rear axle 16 having suitable running wheels 17. The axle in the present instance is mounted as follows: A platform or seat 18 is supported on arched bars 18a, the plat form serving as a seat or as a support for any approved seat. Art the under side of the platform is a block 19, having depending spaced sides 20 united at the lower ends by a cross bar 21. The axle 16 passes through the side members 20 and is provided with a fixed pin-ion 22 in the space between the sides 2,0. A reciprocating element 23 ranges longitudinallyof the vehicle and is provided with racks 24, 25, spaced vertically from each other, being disposed respectively above and below the pinionv22. ln the inner faces of the sides 20 above the pinion 22, opposite, longitudinal grooves 27 are provided, in which lateral ribs 26 on the sides of the upper rack are adapted to have guided movement. In each groove 27 a lateral rib 28 is provided, constituting ledges on which the ribs 26 travel in one stroke of the reciprocating element 23, the bottoms of the grooves 27 constituting lower ledges on which the said ribs travel on the return stroke of the reciprocating element. "When the ribs 26 are on the ledges 28, the lower rack 24 will be in mesh with the pinion 22, whereas when the ribs 26 pass beyond the ledges 28, the upper rack 25 will drop into mesh with the said pinion, so that the pinion will be given an impulse in the same direction by each rack.

In order to cause thc reciprocating element 23 to rise after a stroke in one direction to a position for the ribs 26 to move onto the ledges 28, with the lower rack in mesh with the pinion, I provide co-acting elements on the reciprocating element and on a relatively fixed part of the vehicle. In the illustrated form there is a cam 29 presenting a beveled surface at the under side of the lower rack 24, and a plate spring 30 is secured to the upper side of the cross .bar 2l, in a position to engage the cam 29 when the reciprocating element 23 has finished a forward stroke. The action is such that the spring 30 will cause the racks to rise so that the ribs 26 will be disposed in the grooves 27 above the ledges 28, and with the lower rack 24C in line with the teeth of the pinion 22. Upon the rearward stroke of the reciprocating element 23 being completed, the ribs 26 will have passed rearwardly beyond the ledges 28, and as the cam surface 29 will have previously passed rearwardly beyond In order to provide for braking the vehicle through the medium of the reciprocat- With a vertical member 32 joining the rear ends of the Vracks 24, 25, and on the said vertical member 32 is an integral curved flange 33, constituting a brake shoe adapted to have frictional engagement with the vdrum 31 upon an extreme forward stroke of the reciprocating element 23. y

It will be understood that any manuallycontrolled actuating means may be provided for the reciprocating element 23. In the illustrated example a hand-actuated lever 34 is mounted atl the front of the said element 23, and is connected with the latter by a slot and pin connection 35, 36. The lever is provided with a cross handle 37, and is fulcrumed as at 38 in angle brackets 39 or equivalent members on the frame 10. The slot and pin connection of the reciprocating element permits it to drop at its rear end for- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,v

Having thus described my invention, I claim vas new, anddesire to secure by ALetters Patent: "f

l. In al drive mechanism, a reciprocating drive element, having opposed spaced racks thereon, a pinion between the racks, means Vwhereby to alternately engage the rackswith the pinion in the forward and return strokes of the said drive element, a drum turning with the pinion, a brake member on the said drive element having a brakeelement beyond the racks, and means to reciprocate said drive element, the said element being movable to a positionl to `bring its brake member into engagement with the drum after disengagement of the pinion.

2. In a drive mechanism, a reciprocating drive element having spaced parallel members with opposedracks thereon, and having a curved brake member thereon beyond the racks, a drum turning with the pinion, and means to reciprocate the drive element, said element being movable to a postion to bring the said brake member against vthe said ,drum when the racks are out of en-y gagement with the pinion.V

In testimonywvhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presenceV 'of two subscribing Witnesses.

v Y JAMES MURRAY COOK. -Witnesse`s: p' Y l J. H. KELLY,

R. D. COLMERY.

.Washingtom D. C.

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